Magical Tool Master Dahlia Never Compromises ~ Starting Today: Life as a Freelancer ~

"Thank you, Wolf. I had a great time."

"Thank goodness everything went well, Randolph. I'm glad too. This is the first time I've ever been in training without a sword."

After the game, both sides held a brief review meeting on the training ground.

After the monster-suppression team confirmed the success of the operation, the team members began to chat in groups.

Some people were already laughing and chatting about where to go for drinks and what to eat later.

"Leonardi, I want to thank you too. Flying into the sky was so much fun."

Seeing Randolph's face beaming, Kirk was stunned. The usually taciturn senior was actually smiling like a teenager in front of him.

"No! I was just pushing you out. I'm not very good at controlling wind magic yet... But it's great that Goodwin-senpai was able to grab the helmet!"

"Just call me Randolph. If you call Goodwin, seven people here will turn around."

"Uh, Randolph-senpai. Please call me Kirk then."

Kirk was truly delighted to be able to address his two seniors by their first names one day.

"Kirk, the sky is really nice... so relaxing."

"Randolph-senpai?"

"Randolph?"

The man said this with a bitter expression on his face.

"...I apologize to our ancestors for saying this, but I can't help but want wind magic instead of earth magic."

Wolfe and Kirk smiled at each other when they heard his emotional words.

"Everyone wants something they don't have."

"Yes, but you must also cherish the abilities you have."

Their tone was gentle, sometimes mixed with laughter; at the same time, the First Knights on the opposite side were also holding a review meeting.

However, during the review here, half of the people remained silent, and the other half kept repeating the same conversation.

"Why didn't you hit him at all?!"

"We wanted to follow orders, but he..."

"There are also people who can use wind magic in the enemy army. Their movements are difficult to predict..."

“It’s really ugly that there are so many people and nothing can be done.”

"That's enough. Who is it that made us lose so miserably?"

A middle-aged knight who had not spoken a word today questioned the unwilling man with a gloomy look.

"What did you say?"

"A man who can't even capture a woman's heart is still here throwing a tantrum. It's hilarious. If you don't want to accept this, just become as powerful as them."

"Speak with more respect."

"You're a brat, don't think you can survive in the First Knight Order just by relying on your family background. The captain gave you captaincy to test your abilities, which is why I stayed away from you. And you've completely failed to live up to his expectations."

"Varied……!"

The man was speechless, and the knights beside him looked relieved.

Unexpectedly, the middle-aged knight also glared at them angrily.

"As members of the First Order of Knights, you failed to stop him, which is useless. I will report this to the Captain and make you repent completely. Be prepared..."

The sound, so deep it was like an earthquake, frightened the knights so much that their faces turned pale.

The First Order of Knights is large, but there are also many who wish to join or be transferred from other orders.

Therefore, those who are judged to be incompetent or have personality problems must be retrained or transferred.

The young knights had never realized that they were being tested not only during training, but also during exercises and expeditions, and that the people in charge of the tests were knights of low status.

Some people stared at the ground, some sighed deeply, some groaned softly, and some continued to glare at the others with angry expressions. Alfio, wearing black gloves, watched this scene from the other end of the field and smiled with satisfaction.

After handling the follow-up matters of the joint exercise, today's work will be completed.

Since the end time was much earlier than scheduled, the team members excitedly talked about where to go to relax and drink, and where to go to have fun.

At this moment, everyone suddenly lowered their voices, and the team members in front retreated to the left and right to make way.

Wolfe looked up in confusion, only to see a man wearing the black robe of the magic corps, walking in the opposite direction of the crowd.

"Hey, Wolffred, I heard the exercise ended early."

The smiling man was Wolf's brother and the captain of the magic corps, Guid Scafalot.

"Brother! Why are you here?"

Wolff had neither an appointment with Guid nor received any notification letter. Could something have happened to his father or his other brother? He asked frantically, and everyone around him looked at him.

Good had bluish silver hair and blue eyes, and looked nothing like Wolf. If he hadn't said it, no one would have thought they were brothers.

"Sorry for coming so suddenly. Are you busy later?"

"No, nothing."

"I found a shop that sells delicious rock oysters. Would you like to go with me? I heard your training is over, and I wanted to say hello before I leave the castle."

"Thank you. Let's go together."

"Okay, change your clothes first. Don't worry, I'll be waiting for you in the office sorting out the documents."

The knights around stared at the smiling man with curiosity.

Guid didn't mind their gazes and looked at the person next to his brother.

"You are Goodwin and Barty, right? Thank you for taking care of my younger brother. You are welcome to visit Wolfred's mansion next time."

"It's my pleasure."

"Thank you for the invitation."

The two men nodded in greeting. Guid smiled back, said something to Wolff again, and then left the same way he had come.

"Wolf, that was your brother just now... Lord Guid, right?"

"That's right."

They looked nothing alike, so it was no wonder Dolino asked that question. Wolf looked at Dolino, who tilted his head in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just feel like he's showing off his older brother side in front of you—his younger brother. I saw him leading the mage troop during a training exercise a while ago, and he had that... 'calm and composed ice mage!' vibe to him. Not as gentle as he was a while ago."

"He was working, after all."

Wolf's impression of his brother not long ago was actually the same as Dolino's.

It was hard for him to explain to others that he had only recently started talking to his brother, but he could be honest with Dahlia.

"Wolf, give me the model sword. I'll clean it up, you go ahead. Can't keep your brother waiting too long."

"Thank you, Randolph. I'll be grateful to you."

After handing over the model sword, Wolfe walked quickly towards the barracks.

"Hey, how can he be 'excluded from his family'? They're so close."

"His brother even came here to invite him...even my brother wouldn't do that."

"Who said that their relationship wasn't harmonious because their mothers were different?"

Members of the First Knights came from behind, whispering.

"Did he just mention 'Wolfred's mansion'?"

"But I heard that Wolfred is staying in the barracks and hasn't returned home..."

Dolino and Randolph turned back at the same time and said to the gossipers:

"Having experienced life and death, it's natural for Chi Kai to want to distance himself from his family. Who wants to constantly cause their family to worry?"

"It's not that Wolfe can't go home. He just wants to spend more time training, so he often stays in the barracks."

The Knights' faces grew uglier as they listened, and at that moment a young player came up to Randolph.

"When Wolf-senpai was abducted by the flying dragon, the Scafarot family also sent several mages to participate in the search. The claim that they were 'excluded' is nonsense."

"But...he doesn't even attend the Scafarot family's tea parties."

"He wouldn't even attend balls or dinners invited by other families."

"Our unit is different from yours. We have to go on expeditions at short notice, so we can't agree to tea parties or dances. Wouldn't it be rude to cancel on the day? Unless I'm really free, I won't attend. There are only a few people in our unit who can attend. Right, seniors?"

"Yeah, I can't agree to an invitation that's coming too soon."

"I only attend important gatherings or when I have a confirmed day off."

The members of the monster subjugation team all chimed in.

"That's exactly what's going on. After all, monsters won't cooperate with our schedule."

Kirk finished speaking, slowly narrowing his green eyes. Even though there was no wind, his hair moved.

"...Seniors of the First Knights, may I ask you a question?"

"What? Tell me."

"The Scafalot family will definitely be promoted to marquis in Lord Guid's generation. Lord Guid loves Senior Wolf the most. If you attack him, aren't you afraid of getting into trouble later?"

"you!"

"Wolver-senpai doesn't seem like someone who would complain to my brother, and no one on our team would go to Good-sama to tell him about such a thing. However, there are some young ladies and maids in the building far away who came to visit Wolf-senpai. They witnessed the entire exercise. I hope no strange rumors will reach Good-sama's ears."

Kirk looked toward some tall buildings. There were women standing by the windows, clearly visible from here.

“…Hmm!”

The knights were speechless. Kirk continued with a smile:

"I heard the new telescope can see very clearly."

The knights were in such a depressed mood that they resembled a funeral procession. Kirk and the others turned their backs on them and entered the area where the Monster Suppression Force building was located.

After making sure that the other party couldn't hear them, several people laughed out loud at the same time.

"Well said, Leonardi!"

"You're the best junior!"

The people around him patted Kirk's back vigorously.

After this burst of praise, Randolph put his hand on Kirk's shoulder.

"Kirk, I'll treat you to a drink today."

"Thank you, Randolph-senpai. I'll be more than welcome then."

"Leonardi, you looked quite well behaved, but I didn't expect you to be so powerful."

"Senior Baji, please call me Kirk."

"Then you can call me Dolino too."

"Dorino-senpai, I was actually really nervous just now. No, I think I'm still nervous now..."

His open palm trembled slightly, and his forehead was covered with sweat. After finishing the model sword, he shook his hand, which still felt tense.

I could hear some team members laughing behind me.

"Kirk, do you regret being so impulsive? Or are you worried that it will affect your family?"

"No, I don't regret it, and my family should be fine."

"Are you from a viscount family?"

After Kirk nodded, Dolino whispered in his ear.

"If anyone from the First Knights said or did anything to you, please tell us. The brothers in the team will definitely handle it for you."

"Thank you. If anything happens, I'll consult you. Because... it might be troublesome if my grandfather finds out."

Kirk showed a distressed expression, and Dolino looked at him in confusion.